Jul 01 Riders Beat Alouettes 54-51 in Dramatic OT Game

Both teams were looking to make a statement, and both teams ended up accomplishing that goal. However, it would be the Roughriders who would put the exclamation point at the end of their statement, and get the W in dramatic fashion, with a 54 to 51 win in overtime over the Alouettes. The Alouettes had led by as much as 21 points in the 1st half, but Kevin Durant took charge of his team, throwing for 443 yards and 4 touchdowns, including a 5 yard pass to Fantuz to tie the game 40-40 with 1:06 remaining on the clock. Durant ended his night going 30 for 44, 478 yards and 5 touchdowns

In overtime, Saskatchewan scored first, but then SJ Green made perhaps one of the best catches in the history of the CFL in the endzone. The referee on the field declared it a catch, and the instant replay confirmed it to be true. However it was all for not, as Durant was once again able to find the endzone with a 3 yard TD pass to Dressler, who, was not on the roster during last season's Grey Cup loss to the Alouettes. That was Dressler's 10th catch of the night for a total of 154 yards. CFL commissioner Mark Cohon tweeted what many of us were thinking, when he posted "What a way to kick off the season..." in the 4th Quarter.

This makes back to back instant classics between Saskatchewan and Montreal. But while the Roughriders may have had the last laugh, it is the Alouettes who get to lick their wounds wearing their Grey Cup rings. These two teams will next meet on Auguest 6th at Percival Molson Stadium in Montreal. Montreal now goes on to Edmonton where they will play the Eskimos on Sunday, July 11th. Montreal will then play 1 more game on the road against the BC Lions (July 16) before taking on the Hamilton Tigercats in their home opener on July 22nd.

Tags: calvillo \ cfl \ Dressler \ Durant \ football \ Montreal Alouettes \ Saskatchewan RoughRiders